London Metropolitan University

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2012, Official Report, column 496W, on London Metropolitan University, if he will publish the key messages and supporting questions and answers designed to provide assurance to international students, overseas governments and other stakeholders regarding the UK Border Agency's decision to revoke the university's licence to sponsor non-EU students.

David Willetts: Key messages and answers to general questions are already being promoted in the public domain through information on the UK Border Agency website and on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) website, which details action being taken by the taskforce created to help London Metropolitan University support overseas students affected by the decision.
	Answers to specific questions from key stakeholders and overseas governments are being addressed on an individual basis and a helpline has been established at London Metropolitan University to provide advice to students affected by the decision. We do not intend to publish the detail of this correspondence or communication.

London Metropolitan University

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2012, Official Report, column 496W, on London Metropolitan University, if he will publish the guidance issued to posts in British embassies and to partner organisations regarding the UK Border Agency's decision to revoke the university's licence to sponsor non-EU students.

David Willetts: We do not intend to publish Government internal communications with British embassies or other partner organisations in respect of London Metropolitan University.
	Internal guidance that we have issued to date has included: the current position on London Metropolitan University's Tier 4 sponsor licence and the reason for its revocation, action being taken to address the situation and guidance on how to respond to questions received.
	Advice on all these points is already available in the public domain through information being published by the UK Border Agency on their website and on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) website, which details action being taken by the taskforce created to help London Metropolitan University support overseas students affected by the decision.

Space Technology

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what UK space projects his Department is (a) fully and (b) partially funding; what plans he has to fund such projects in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which space projects his Department supports; how much has been spent on each project to date; how much he plans to spend on each project in each of the next two years; what further projects are planned in each of the next two years; what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with HM Treasury on space issues; what the outcome was of such discussions; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The UK Space Agency has published a brochure describing the national space programme and projects 2011/12. It is available on the agency website and explains more about each of the projects listed in the following table. Most are national instrument contributions to European Space Agency or international projects.
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/publications
	An updated document for 2012-13 is in preparation and will be published shortly.
	The UK also invests directly through the European Space Agency in a broad range of space projects in science, earth observation, telecommunications and technology. These are listed on the UK Space Agency website at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/missions
	Beyond the current spending review period, budgets have not been confirmed.
	Space is a success area, and has grown through the recession at an average rate of almost 7.5% and now contributes £9.1 billion to the UK economy annually. Decisions will be made at the European Space Agency Council at ministerial level in November 2012, and there is a significant opportunity for the UK to continue to invest in space projects that will provide economic benefit and aid the UK recovery.
	I wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in August 2012 setting out the range of projects that will be open to subscription at. Discussions between officials and HMT officials have taken place on the costs and benefits of these projects. At this time no firm decision on the level of UK commitment has been made, but a decision will be needed by November 2012.
	
		
			 Principal space projects and programmes managed by the UK Space Agency 
			 £ million 
			  Project spend to date (including estimate for 2012-13) Planned 2013-14 Planned 2014-15 
			 JWST Mid IR Instrument 20 1 0.4 
			 GAIA Data Processing and Analysis Consortium + operations 10.2 2 2 
		
	
	
		
			 BepiColombo MIXS instrument 3.4 0.5 0.2 
			 LISA Pathfinder Test Package 5.5 0.2 0.35 
			 Swift instrument and operations 10.7 0.7 0.5 
			 STEREO instrument and operations 3.2 0.15 0.15 
			 Herschel SPIRE instrument and operations 18.9 0.7 0.4 
			 Planck instruments and operations 19.3 1.1 0.7 
			 Hinode instrument and operations 7.5 0.5 0.4 
			 Solar Orbiter instruments 7 2.9 2.3 
			 Euclid instruments 1.7 2.1 2.3 
			 Future science mission studies 3.8 tbd tbd 
			 TechDemoSat-1(1) 5 tbd tbd 
			 UKube-1 and follow-on 0.7 0.3 tbd 
			 ExoMars instruments and other national space exploration 28.0 5.1 5.5 
			 NovaSAR(2) 7 14 0 
			 National Space Technology Programme(3) 10 tbd tbd 
			 Centre of Earth Observation Instrumentation 5.1 tbd tbd 
			 (1) Technology Strategy Board is lead funder. (2) Fresh funding announced as part of 2011 autumn statement. (3) £10 million from UK Space Agency plus additional contributions from industry, TSB, SEEDA, DSTL and research councils to reach circa £27 million total.

Space Technology

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support he plans to provide to space exploration in each of the next five years; what recent reports he has received of assistance given to space exploration by the governments and administrations of (a) the US, (b) the Russian Federation and (c) each EU member state; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, provides funding to the UK Space Agency for space activities. The one exploration project currently being funded through the European Space Agency (ESA) is ExoMars. This is a mission to explore the atmosphere, surface and sub-surface of Mars and is scheduled to be launched in two phases in 2016 and 2018.
	It is funded by the UK at an average of €14 million per year. In addition there is a nationally funded UK activity of £5 million-£5.5 million per year to provide instruments for the ExoMars mission and to exploit the science and technology of this and other Mars exploration missions.
	The United States was scheduled to be a major partner in ExoMars, but withdrew in early February 2012. The Russian Federation space agency Roscosmos has joined the programme and is expected to provide key elements including the launches.
	ESA member states have agreed to support the ESA ExoMars programme as shown in the following table. Some increased financial support may be provided by some member states at the ESA ministerial meeting in November 2012. Most countries also have a national programme to support instruments. Through ESA, member states are studying options for Mars missions to follow ExoMars with the ultimate goal of returning samples of material from Mars for study in terrestrial laboratories. Germany, Spain and Portugal are also funding studies with ESA of a proposed robotic lunar lander mission to be launched around 2018. A decision on whether to proceed with this project will also be discussed at the November ESA ministerial meeting.
	
		
			 Participating states ExoMars (percentage) ExoMars (€ million—2008 ec) 
			 Austria 1.25 12.5 
			 Belgium 2.61 26.1 
			 Denmark 0.55 5.5 
			 France 12.9 129.0 
			 Germany 8.96 89.6 
			 Italy 27.82 278.2 
			 The Netherlands 1.24 12.4 
			 Norway 0.26 2.6 
			 Portugal 0.21 2.1 
			 Spain 5.83 58.3 
			 Sweden 0.62 6.2 
			 Switzerland 4.38 43.8 
			 United Kingdom 16.5 165.0 
			 Canada 1.91 19.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Total subscribed 85.04 850.4 
		
	
	The UK Space Agency is a member of the International Space Exploration Co-ordination Group which includes NASA. ISECG is engaged in multi-lateral discussions on future space exploration of the Moon, Mars and asteroids, as described on its website:
	http://www.globalspaceexploration.org/
	NASA continues its Mars exploration programme, notably with the landing of Curiosity in August 2012, and is building a new generation of human space exploration vehicles to take astronauts beyond Earth orbit. Roscosmos is defining new robotic space exploration missions to the Moon and has recently announced that it may also develop a new human crew vehicle.

Space Technology

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of (a) the state of the space sector and (b) the development of the International Space Innovation Centre; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The biennial ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Industry’ report, commissioned by the UK Space Agency, assesses the UK space sector. The next report is due to be published later this month and will be accessible on our website; the last report can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/publications
	Latest findings show that the total space-related UK turnover was £9.1 billion in 2010/11 (compared to £7.5 billion in 2008/09), which represents a real growth of 15.6% since 2008/09. The average annual growth rate over the last two years surveyed has been 7.5%. Together these growth rates suggest that the UK space industry has performed extremely well in difficult economic circumstances.
	The International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC)—in operation since April 2011—has not yet had a formal assessment but I receive regular reports on ongoing activities, all of which demonstrate how it is already making a substantial impact in helping to accelerate development of the UK's Space economy.

Charitable Donations

Robert Buckland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a licensing regime that treats commercial collectors equally with charities in respect of house to house collections; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent estimate his Department has made of the (a) set-up cost and (b) annual running cost of a new licensing scheme for house to house collections if national exemption orders were abolished;
	(3)  what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of processing applications from charities for house to house collections if national exemption orders were abolished.

Nick Hurd: As part of his recent review of the Charities Act 2006 (‘Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to charities’) Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts considered the future licensing and regulation of charitable collections. The Government is carefully considering all of Lord Hodgson's recommendations, and is working closely with the charity sector and other interested parties to consider the evidence and develop the Government's response.
	A full written response to Lord Hodgson's report will be published later this year.

Internet

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of (a) individuals and (b) households that do not use the internet in each (i) region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) constituency in the UK.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 13 September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what estimate has been made of the number and proportion of (a) individuals and (b) households that do not use the Internet in each (i) region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) constituency in the UK.
	Estimates of Internet use by adults aged 16 years and over are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics and are available on the Office for National Statistics website. These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and have coverage of the United Kingdom (UK). Estimates are available by region {Table 1) and two lower level geographical tiers (Tables 2 and 3). A copy of these tables has been placed in the House of Commons library. The latest available estimates are in respect of 2012 Q2 (April to June 2012). Estimates of Internet use by local authority area and constituency in the UK are not available.
	Estimates of household Internet access are published on an annual basis by the Office for National Statistics and are also available on the Office for National Statistics website. These estimates are derived from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey. Estimates are available by region, but for Great Britain only (Table 4). It is not possible, from this survey, to produce estimates of household Internet access by local authority area or constituency.

Ministers

Owen Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many hon. Members and peers were appointed to Government posts (a) excluding and (b) including Parliamentary Private Secretaries on (i) 10 September 2012 and (ii) 31 August 2012;
	(2)  how many paid Ministers held a Government post on (a) 10 September 2012 and (b) 31 August 2012;
	(3)  what the total cost was of the salaries of paid Ministerial appointments in each Government department on (a) 10 September 2012 and (b) 31 August 2012;
	(4)  how many (a) paid Cabinet Ministers including the Lord Chancellor, (b) paid Ministers of State, (c) other paid Ministers heading Government Departments or office holders listed in schedule 1, Part 1, of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 who were not members of the Cabinet, (d) paid law officers and (e) paid whips there were on (i) 31 August 2012 and (ii) 10 September 2012; and what the total cost was of salaries for each category on each date.

Francis Maude: holding answer 13 September 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the list of the Government published on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/the-coalition/the-government/
	which includes information on which Ministers are unpaid.
	An updated list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries will be published in due course.
	Details on the level of ministerial, salaries are set out in the ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, as amended by the Ministerial and other Salaries Order 2011.

Community Infrastructure Levy

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the range is of community infrastructure levies being enforced in the UK.

Nicholas Boles: Local authorities in England and Wales, and the Mayor of London, can choose to charge the community infrastructure levy on new development in their area. At the present time, six authorities have approved charging schedules in place and are operating the levy. Rates for residential, retail and commercial uses range from £0 to £125 per square metre. Charges are set following consultation, public examination and independent approval. They must be demonstrated to be viable and should be kept under review by charging authorities.

Housing: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on his decision to target a reduction in the levels of severe overcrowding.

Mark Prisk: The London Housing Strategy, published in February 2010, includes a commitment to halve severe overcrowding among social tenants by 2016. The strategy was discussed in detail with my officials before publication.
	Housing was devolved to the Mayor through the Localism Act which came into effect in April this year. My Department continues to work closely with the Greater London Authority on housing matters where there is a shared interest. The framework for this relationship is provided by a memorandum of understanding which has been agreed between both organisations.

Travellers

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities co-operate in the production of cross-authority plans on provision for the travelling community; and what sanctions he is considering for authorities which do not co-operate.

Brandon Lewis: Local authorities must work together on planning issues that cross administrative boundaries under the duty to cooperate introduced by the Localism Act 2011. Planning policy for traveller sites makes clear that, under the duty, local authorities should consider the production of joint plans that set targets on a cross-authority basis, to provide more flexibility in identifying traveller sites (particularly if a local authority has special or strict planning constraints across its area).
	The duty to cooperate requires local authorities to work together constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis on planning for strategic cross-boundary matters in local plans. Local authorities are required to demonstrate that they have complied with the duty when their plans are examined at the independent local plan examination. Failure to demonstrate compliance may mean that the local plan may not pass the examination process.

Migration: Children

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been given to local authorities to safeguard children identified as in need or at risk as a result of migration of families when support with housing costs through (a) local housing allowance and (b) universal credit is reduced.

Edward Timpson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Education.
	'Statutory arrangements are in place to identify children who are in need or at risk or who have special educational needs and their families. Should any families with such children have to move as the result of changes to housing allowances and the introduction of universal credit then schools and local authorities will have the duties to transfer information.
	Schools are under a duty when a pupil changes school to transfer the pupil's educational records and the Common Transfer File, which includes information on a child's special educational needs. Where a child has a statement of special educational needs moves between authorities local authorities are under a duty to transfer the statement to the new authority and may also transfer any opinion they have received under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 that the child is disabled. Upon transfer of the statement, the new authority becomes responsible for maintaining the statement and for providing the special educational provision specified in it.
	No guidance has been specifically given to local authorities about children identified as in need or at risk as a result of families migration.
	Statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and the ‘Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families’ provides clear guidance for professionals to follow when they suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer harm, or is in need. Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Children Act 1989 to promote the welfare of children and carry out an assessment if they suspect a child may be suffering harm.
	This guidance is currently the subject of a national consultation. While professionals' basic responsibilities will not change, revised guidance aims to clarify these roles and responsibilities and to reduce bureaucracy, giving them more scope to focus firmly on the needs of the child.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 195W, on armed forces: sexual offences, how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault were reported by (i) civilian staff and (ii) armed forces personnel in each service and the reserve forces in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my predecessor the Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) on 25 June 2012, Official Report, column 3W, and on 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 195W. Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Business Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of people who will be employed by his Department's Defence Business Services in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales in 2014.

Mark Francois: The number of people who will be employed by the Defence Business Services in 2014 is estimated at 1,672. Within this estimate around 13 posts will be located in Scotland, five in Northern Ireland, two in Wales, seven overseas and the remaining 1,645 in England. This estimate is based on planned headcount numbers as at 31 March 2014 which were agreed in Planning Round 12. It does not reflect additional savings that are currently being reviewed in the current annual budgeting cycle, or any potential changes, which may result from the transformation of corporate services within the Ministry of Defence.

1 North West

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have given to one North West.

David Laws: The Department and its Agencies have not provided any funding to an organisation by the title of 1 North West.

16-19 Bursary Fund

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much education maintenance allowance was paid to residents of each local authority in 2010-11; and what the value was of discretionary 16-19 bursaries paid to residents of each local authority in 2011-12.

David Laws: holding answer 5 September 2012
	Details of education maintenance allowance (EMA) payments made to young people in local authorities in England during the academic year 2010/11 has been placed in the House Libraries.
	The 2011/12 academic year is the first in which the 16-19 Bursary Fund has been operating. There are two types of bursary available under the fund: discretionary payments and a separate £1,200 bursary for young people from defined vulnerable groups. A breakdown is not yet available on the proportion of the total Bursary Fund paid as discretionary payments separate from the proportion paid to vulnerable groups. During 2011/12, in addition to the 16-19 Bursary Fund, transitional EMA payments were paid to students who had received EMA in previous years. Data on Bursary Fund payments and the EMA transitional arrangements during 2011/12 are being collected at local level and will be available in early 2013.

Financial Services: Education

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what comparative assessment he has made of the level of financial education in schools in England and other nations; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: We have limited robust evidence available on the level of financial education in schools in England across all age groups. Research suggests that financial education outcomes are difficult to measure and are likely to be acquired long-term. Ofsted report on financial education as part of their Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) inspection and in 2010 noted that financial education provision was patchy, although they commented that where it was good pupils could grasp key concepts and terms and demonstrate the ability to make sound financial decisions; and they could apply knowledge and skills to real situations. Devolved Administrations adopt different approaches and financial education is determined locally in Scotland whereas the Welsh Assembly has laid down detailed learning outcomes. Northern Ireland provides compulsory financial education within the curriculum from ages four to 14 as part of its 'Mathematics with Financial Capability' lessons.

Free School Meals

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure full take-up of free school meals by eligible children.

David Laws: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The Government is committed to increasing take-up of free school meals for all pupils who are entitled to them. We want disadvantaged children to benefit from a nutritious meal, and for their schools to receive Pupil Premium funding which will help them to help raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. We have taken a number of steps to achieve this aim.
	In addition to the work that we have funded the School Food Trust to undertake on our behalf to increase the take-up of school lunches, the Department encouraged take-up of free school meals in November 2011 by sending registration messages to parents, schools and local authorities.
	The school census figures published on 21 June 2012 show that registration for free school meals increased by 0.1% in both primary and secondary schools nationally.
	Our funding for the School Food Trust enables it to carry out further work to improve the take-up of healthy school lunches, and specifically to increase take-up of free school meals. The Trust has just published the results of its annual take-up survey, which shows that take-up of school lunches was 46.3% in primary schools and 39.8% in secondary schools. This represents an increase over 2010-11 of 2.2 percentage points in both the primary and secondary sectors. This equates to about 167,000 more pupils taking school lunches in 2011-12 than in the previous financial year.
	Finally, we have streamlined the application process for free school meals by developing an on-line Eligibility Checking System, which allows local authorities to check data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office to establish a family's free school meal eligibility quickly. We are encouraging local authorities to increase their use of this resource, which as well as reducing bureaucracy and cost at a local level, is also encouraging more parents to sign up their children for a free school lunch. For those authorities that choose to use it, the Eligibility Checking Service allows parents to check their own eligibility and to apply on-line for free school meals.

Migration: Children

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to identify families with children identified as in need or at risk or who have special educational needs who may have to move home following a reduction in their family's entitlement to housing costs through (a) local housing allowance and (b) universal credit;
	(2)  what guidance has been given to local education authorities to safeguard children identified as in need or at risk as a result of migration of families when support with housing costs through (a) local housing allowance and (b) universal credit is reduced.

Edward Timpson: Statutory arrangements are in place to identify children who are in need or at risk or who have special educational needs and their families. Should any families with such children have to move as the result of changes to housing allowances and the introduction of universal credit then schools and local authorities will have the duties to transfer information.
	Schools are under a duty when a pupil changes school to transfer the pupil's educational records and the Common Transfer File, which includes information on a child's special educational needs. Where a child has a statement of special educational needs moves between authorities local authorities are under a duty to transfer the statement to the new authority and may also transfer any opinion they have received under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 that the child is disabled. Upon transfer of the statement, the new authority becomes responsible for maintaining the statement and for providing the special educational provision specified in it.
	No guidance has been specifically given to local authorities about children identified as in need or at risk as a result of families’ migration.
	Statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families’ provides clear guidance for professionals to follow when they suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer harm, or is in need. Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Children Act 1989 to promote the welfare of children and carry out an assessment if they suspect a child may be suffering harm.
	This guidance is currently the subject of a national consultation. While professionals' basic responsibilities will not change, revised guidance aims to clarify these roles and responsibilities and to reduce bureaucracy, giving them more scope to focus firmly on the needs of the child.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils have attracted payment of the pupil premium in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Laws: holding answer 12 September 2012
	The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011. Pupil premium funding is provided to schools which have on roll pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (the deprivation premium); children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months (the looked after child premium); and children whose parents are serving in the armed forces (the service child premium).
	In financial year 2011-12, 1,340 pupils in Brigg and Goole constituency were eligible for either the deprivation premium or service child premium, attracting £645,000 of funding. It is not possible to identify, at constituency level, the number of pupils eligible for the looked after child premium or the number of pupils eligible for the deprivation premium in alternative provision settings.
	In financial year 2011-12, 136,820 pupils in Yorkshire and the Humber were eligible for the deprivation, service child and looked after children premiums, attracting £65.644 million.
	The number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium in 2012-13 has not yet been confirmed. The provisional estimate is that 2,130 pupils in Brigg and Goole constituency will be eligible for either the deprivation premium or the service child premium and will attract £1.267 million of funding. This estimate is based on January 2011 school census data and data for pupils eligible for free school meals since 2006. It reflects the decision to extend eligibility for the deprivation premium to those eligible for free school meals in the previous six years.
	The provisional estimate for Yorkshire and the Humber is that 197,200 pupils will be eligible for the deprivation, service child and looked after child premiums in the financial year 2012-13, attracting £116.957 million.

Schools: Dudley

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students (a) entering secondary schools in Dudley and (b) from each local authority area are taking part in the summer school programme in 2012.

David Laws: The Department does not currently have information about the number of students taking part in the summer school programme in 2012, although a list of secondary schools which opted into the programme is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/premium/summer/b00204241/ssprog
	We will shortly be collecting information from secondary schools about the number of students taking part this year. I shall write to the hon. Member once we have received this information from schools.

Schools: Playing Fields

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the sale of school playing fields; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: Strict controls concerning the disposal of school playing fields are in place. Approval must be sought from the Secretary of State before publicly funded school playing fields can be sold. Decisions on applications to dispose of school land are not taken lightly. In every case Ministers take into account all relevant matters before coming to a decision. This can include information provided by the applicant, objectors, the school playing field advisory panel and Department for Education officials, as well as consideration of what is best for pupils' education and their wider school life.
	This Government has only approved sales if the school has closed, has merged, or it is proposed that equal or better facilities are put in their place. This is to ensure that any disposal of playing fields does not have a detrimental effect on young people's opportunity to access sporting provision.

Secondary Education: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many vacant secondary school places there were in (a) Birmingham, Hall Green constituency and (b) Birmingham City Council area in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Laws: The Department collects information from each local authority on the number of unfilled places in maintained secondary schools (except special schools) via an annual survey. The following table shows the number of unfilled places in maintained secondary schools in Birmingham between 2007 and 2011, which is the most recent data available. The number of unfilled places are reported at local authority level and not broken down by constituency.
	
		
			 Unfilled places in maintained secondary schools (figures for 2010 and 2011 include unfilled places in Academies), Birmingham City Council 
			  Unfilled places 
			 2007(1) 3,107 
			 2008(1) 3,543 
			 2009(1) 3,823 
			 2010(2) 4,026 
			 2011(2) 4,827 
			 (1) Number of places relate to position as at January 2007, 2008 and 2009. (2) Number of places relate to position as at May 2010 and May 2011. Source: Surplus Places Survey and School Capacity Collection

Electricity: Prices

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the average costs for domestic electricity customers living in (a) Merseyside, (b) Oxfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire and (d) Surrey who consumed the standard consumption of 3,300 kWh per annum in each of the last three years.

John Hayes: The UK electricity market is divided into regions based on Public Electricity Supply (PES) areas. Electricity suppliers vary prices between these regions but not within them, with the same tariffs available to all customers within the area.
	Counties can fall in multiple electricity supply regions, and so customers in any one county may be subject to different prices depending on their PES area. Following is a list of the requested counties and the electricity supply regions in which they fall.
	(a) Merseyside—Merseyside and North Wales electricity board (MANWEB)
	(b) Oxfordshire—Southern, West Midlands, East Midlands
	(c) Cambridgeshire—Eastern
	(d) Surrey—South Eastern Electricity Board (Seeboard), Southern
	DECC publishes in Quarterly Energy Prices average annual domestic standard electricity bills based on standard consumption of 3,3O0kWh per annum for the above electricity supply regions on average, and broken down by payment type. The table below shows the overall average bills by PES area.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 East Midlands 411 403 447 
			 Eastern 417 407 446 
			 Manweb 444 431 474 
			 Seeboard 416 408 438 
			 Southern 434 424 445 
			 West Midlands 419 409 449 
		
	
	Most customers in Oxfordshire will be paying 'Southern' prices
	Most customers in Surrey will be paying 'Seeboard' prices.

South Sudan

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ongoing negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan and related events in summer 2012; and what role the Government plans to play in supporting that process as it continues.

Mark Simmonds: We regret that the two Governments were not able to reach full agreement by the UN Security Council's deadline of 2 August. But we welcome the deal the two sides have agreed on oil. and other steps that have been made, for example in de-escalating tensions at the border, in reducing inflammatory rhetoric, and in withdrawing security forces from Abyei. We urge both Governments to show the political vision at the current round of talks to bridge the final gaps on security, borders, citizenship, and the final status of Abyei.
	Britain is offering financial and expert advisory support to the African Union (AU) High Level Implementation panel, who lead the facilitation of negotiations between the two countries. The British Special Representative is attending the current rounds of talks in Addis Ababa and our ambassadors and officials in both countries continue to engage with government ministers, advisors and senior military officers on a regular basis, making clear to both that they should comply with the AU roadmap and UN Security Council resolution 2046 and reach agreement on all-outstanding issues.

Syria

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what non-lethal assistance is being provided to anti-government fighters in Syria.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the statement on Syria the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made to the House on 3 September 2012, Official Report, columns 53-68. Our non-lethal assistance is intended to include communication equipment, water purification and power generators and is targeted at unarmed opposition groups and human rights activists. We have also provided training to support the documentation of human rights abuses. The support we provide will be consistent with our own laws and values.

Cancer

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Health and Social Care Information Centre has made on the development of one and five year cancer survival rate indicators for inclusion in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework 2013-14.

Norman Lamb: The Health and Social Care Information Centre is working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to develop a methodology for measuring cancer survival at clinical commissioning group population level for potential inclusion in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework. These are complex measures that require linkage of ONS population statistics with cancer registry data and attribution to clinical commissioning groups, as well as testing the robustness of the measures. It is likely to take some months to complete this work.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will decide on the content of the Commissioning Outcomes Framework and is expected to publish the list of measures for 2013-14 in the autumn. If not included in the 2013-14 framework, the board may choose a separate publication route for the data that does exist, to ensure the information is available transparently to the public.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many graduates from UK dental schools have not been allocated a place on the Dental Foundation Training Programme for 2012-13. [R]

Daniel Poulter: 35 dental graduates from dental schools in England and Wales were unsuccessful in obtaining a dental foundation training (DFT1) place out of an overall total of 1,145 eligible applicants. The Postgraduate Dental Deans are seeking to make arrangements whereby these dentists can maintain their skills pending the 2013 DFT1 recruitment exercise, in which some training places will be available from February 2013.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse is of training each graduate of a UK dental school. [R]

Daniel Poulter: The information available to the Department is for university dental schools in England. We estimate that the cost of training undergraduates for the five year Bachelor of Dental Surgery course is about £200,000, of which students, who are not eligible for support under the arrangements to help low income families, can be expected to contribute £45,000.

Fractures

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to Age UK and the National Osteoporosis Society's report Breaking Through: Building Better Falls and Fracture Services in England, if he will commission the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop a quality standard on fractures excluding those of the hip and head.

Norman Lamb: A quality standard on fractures, excluding head and hip, was referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in March 2012 as part of a library of approximately 180 National Health Service Quality Standard topics.

General Practitioners

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of assessments centres overseen by the NHS Leadership Academy has been for staff being considered for accountable officer roles in the new clinical commissioning groups.

Anna Soubry: By the beginning of September, 493 accountable officer and chair applicants went through the assessment centre and related development offer at a cost of £1.75 million to the NHS Leadership Academy.

General Practitioners

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether commissioning bodies funding specialist services are obliged to consider patient choice when considering funding applications.

Daniel Poulter: Currently legal directions issued alongside the NHS constitution require primary care trusts to ensure that patients have a right to choice when they are referred for their first consultant-led out-patient appointment. This is enabled by choose and book, which is an electronic referral and booking system that primary care health professionals can use when offering patients choice of specialist consultant-led outpatient appointments.
	As a result of the Government health care reforms, from April 2013 the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for commissioning specialist services and will be required to have regard to the duties set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The Act requires the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to
	"promote the involvement of patients, and their carers and representatives (if any), in decisions which relate to—
	(a) the prevention or diagnosis of illness in the patients, or
	(b) their care or treatment."

General Practitioners

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether commissioning bodies funding specialist services are required to accept the medical recommendations of clinicians applying for funding for their patients;
	(2)  whether commissioning bodies funding specialist services are permitted to refuse funding based on their own medical opinion.

Daniel Poulter: The NHS constitution sets out the right of patients to receive drugs and treatments that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and that their doctors consider clinically appropriate for them.
	However, at a strategic level, it is for national health service commissioners to decide which services to fund for their local population. Local healthcare priorities will vary from area to area. There are no specific rules or guidance for commissioners that sets out a hierarchy of clinical evidence and advice to use when seeking to make funding decisions.
	In the absence of NICE technology appraisal guidance on a particular treatment, it is for local NHS commissioners to make funding decisions based on an assessment of the available clinical evidence to support the benefits and cost effectiveness of a particular treatment and on the basis of an individual patient's clinical circumstances.
	The NHS constitution also sets out patients' right to expect local decisions on the funding of drugs and treatments to be made rationally, following a proper consideration of the evidence. If a NHS commissioner decides not to fund a drug or treatment, then it should explain the reason for coming to that decision.

Health Services: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on (a) hospital and (b) health service reconfigurations in respect of (i) the University Hospital of Hartlepool and (ii) health services provided to residents of Hartlepool constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The reconfiguration of health services is a matter for the national health service locally.
	Where there is a compelling need to change the way in which services are delivered, and where they are delivered from, change must be underpinned by the four tests for service reconfiguration.
	Namely, any local plans must demonstrate support from general practitioner commissioners, strengthened public and patient engagement, clarity on the clinical evidence base and support for patient choice.
	The Momentum: pathways to healthcare reconfiguration programme, which includes proposals for changes to services at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, has been developed locally by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, in liaison with the Tees primary care trust cluster, to implement the recommendations made by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel in 2006.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the infection rate was in NHS hospitals in (a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: For the years that the data are available, the information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Numbers of infections—total reported specimens attributed to Coventry PCO, west midlands and England 
			  April 2007 to  March 200 8 April 2008 to  March 200 9 April 2009 to  March 2010 
			  Coventry PCO West midlands England Coventry PCO West midlands England Coventry PCO West midlands England 
			 MRSA bacteraemia 24 510 4,451 13 307 2,935 6 161 1,898 
			 Clostridium difficile infection 337 6,959 55,498 164 4,074 36,095 121 3,039 25,604 
			 MSSA bacteraemia — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  April 2010 to March 2011 April 2011 to March 2012 
			  Coventry PCO West midlands England Coventry PCO West midlands England 
			 MRSA bacteraemia 1 156 1,481 4 97 1,114 
			 Clostridium difficile Infection 153 2,626 21,707 148 2,383 18,005 
			 MSSA bacteraemia — — — 48 935 8,708 
			 Notes: 1. The numbers of infections shown in the table are total reported specimens attributed to primary care organisations (PCO). 2. Mandatory surveillance of E.coli began in June 2011. Data before that date are not available. 3. Mandatory surveillance of MSSA bloodstream infections began in January 2011. Data before that date are not available. 4. Data prior to 2008 was collected in a different way and may not be strictly comparable.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of elective operations cancelled at the last minute for non clinical reasons 
			  University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust West Midlands SHA England 
			 2007-08 303 5,587 57,382 
			 2008-09 634 6,444 63,644 
			 2009-10 537 6,589 62,296 
			 2010-11 612 6,434 58,297 
			 2011-12 575 6,077 57,087 
			 2012-13 (Q1) 117 1,564 14,184 
			 Source: Department of Health datasets QMCO

Firearms: Licensing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 have shotgun and other firearms certificates in the (a) UK and (b) North East.

Damian Green: The total number of shotgun and other firearm certificates granted to persons aged under 18 years in England and Wales, as of September 2012, is 4,952. For the North East region, consisting of Cleveland, Durham, and Northumbria police forces, the figure is 159.
	Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for their respective Administrations.
	The data were extracted from the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS). The NFLMS is an operational system, continuously updated by police forces in England and Wales, which holds data on all firearm and shotgun certificates they issue. While some statistical data from this system is published annually by the Home Office, the figures on age are not part of this publication and not subject to the same quality assurance checks.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the PROMINES minerals sector reform programme.

Justine Greening: The UK co-funds the mining reform programme PROMINES with the World Bank. There were delays to the programme, from September 2010 to October 2011, whilst the World Bank and Congolese Government agreed a Governance Economic Matrix (a set of conditions to enhance transparency and accountability in natural resource and public expenditure management and the business environment): Following these delays we have been working with the World Bank to put the programme back on track. We have recently seen a number of positive trends in enhancing transparency in the sector, including the publication of 136 mining contracts. For further information please see the following link to the World Bank website:
	http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P106982/drc-growth-governance-mineral-sector?lang=en

Developing Countries: Urban Areas

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department assesses poverty and vulnerability in urban areas.

Alan Duncan: DFID draws on a range of information sources, including national poverty surveys and consultations with poor people, to assess poverty and vulnerability in urban areas.
	The Department is working with others to improve the tools to measure and understand urban poverty. For example in Vietnam we are supporting a special poverty survey for urban areas. In Bangladesh, DFID supports the Urban Partnership for Poverty Reduction Programme, which has developed a new way of measuring and monitoring urban poverty that includes people living in slums and informal settlements, who were previously excluded from the official statistics.

Developing Countries: Urban Areas

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and UN-Habitat on steps to address the growing number of refugees and internally displaced persons residing in urban areas.

Alan Duncan: DFID regularly holds discussions with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other organisations which provide assistance to refugees. DFID has also recently met with UN Habitat. The former Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), met UNHCR on 25 July to discuss the refugee situations in Burma, South Sudan/Sudan, Sahel and Syria. These discussions included the circumstances faced by refugees in urban areas and how best to assist them.

India

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent (a) in bilateral aid for each project and (b) through each multilateral organisation in India in the last two years.

Alan Duncan: Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral spending in India for 2010-11 is set out in the following table. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available.
	
		
			 2010-11 
			 Project Total (£) 
			 State level projects  
			 Andhra Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme 452,712 
			 Bihar Governance Reform 2,005,576 
			 Bihar Nutrition and Health Sector Support 14,656,016 
			 Bihar Strengthening Urban Management Programme 2,282,670 
			 Bihar Urban Reforms 7,851,169 
			 Madhya Pradesh Power Sector Reform—Phase 2 3,952,774 
			 Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project—Phase 2 10,368,372 
			 Madhya Pradesh Urban Services for the Poor 10,973,699 
			 Madhya Pradesh Strengthening performance management in government 1,299,481 
			 Madhya Pradesh Health sector support 20,112,424 
			 Orissa Health Sector Support 17,664,055 
			 Orissa Modernising Economy, Government and Administration 154,160 
			 Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme 32,825 
			 Western Orissa Rural Livelihoods 6,119,401 
			 West Bengal Civil Society Support Programme 55,250 
			 West Bengal Kolkata Urban Services for the Poor 26,585,353 
			 West Bengal Public Sector Enterprise Reform—Phase 2 5,349,362 
			 West Bengal Strengthening Rural Decentralisation 7,357,946 
			 National projects  
			 National AIDS Control Programme Phase III 24,289,430 
			 Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA—Secondary Education) 161,869 
			 Reproductive and Child Health Programme Phase II 35,467,595 
			 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan II (Universal elementary education) 49,212,086 
			 Mahila Samakhya (Gender equality and women's empowerment) 4,105,081 
			 Support to National Policies for Urban Poverty Reduction 453,152 
			 Capacity Building for Poverty Reduction 1,599,173 
			   
			 Private sector  
			 Poorest States Inclusive Growth Programme 174,604 
			 Small and Medium Enterprises project 3,243,727 
			   
			 Civil society and multilaterals  
			 Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme II 1,161,386 
			 Support to WHO for Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program 1,500,000 
			 UN Conference on Trade and Development Globalisation Trust Fund 901,699 
			 UNICEF Strategic Partnership in India 13,000,000 
			 International NGOs Partnership Agreement Programme 4,649,530 
			 MoU with International Development Research Centre 934,854 
			   
			 Other 808,623 
			   
			 Grand total 278,936,052 
		
	
	Some of the projects above are delivered through multilateral organisations. Total UK aid delivered through multilateral organisations in India as part of the bilateral programme is as follows:
	
		
			 Multilateral 2010-11 (£) 2011-12 (£) 
			 Asian Development Bank (AsDB) — 4,000,000 
			 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 901,699 — 
			 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 13,000,000 10,000,000 
			 World Health Organisation (WHO) 1,500,000 — 
			 World Bank — 6,000,026 
			 Total 15,401,699 20,000,026 
		
	
	UK aid is also channelled through multilateral organisations through core contributions. It is not possible to track, directly the funding down to the country or sector level.
	DFID estimates the UK share of multilateral spend in countries based on the overall proportions of ODA to each country reported by multilaterals and DFID's share of total core contributions.
	The UK's imputed multilateral share of ODA to India was £36 million in 2009-10 and £273 million in 2010-11 (the latest year for which estimates are available).

West Africa

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to help avert a food crisis in West Africa.

Justine Greening: In response to the unfolding crisis, my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), announced direct UK contributions totalling £25.4 million to the region in 2012.
	Through this assistance, British aid this year will support 1.6 million people at risk of hunger across Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.
	These direct funds are in addition to £32 million of UK contributions also being provided in 2012 to the Sahel region-through multilateral agencies such as the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
	My officials and I will continue to monitor the situation closely, and liaise with our opposite numbers in other governments to urge other countries also to take their fair share of the response.

A31: Dorset

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the A31 Canford Bottom Junction Improvement Scheme on improving general road safety and reducing traffic (a) in general and (b) during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Stephen Hammond: The assessment of the effectiveness of the A31 Canford Bottom junction improvement scheme will be undertaken 12 months after the completion of the scheme under the Post Opening Project Evaluation. This is in line with current practice for all road safety and congestion improvements that the Highways Agency undertakes.
	Post Opening Project Evaluation compares the costs, benefits and other impacts predicted at the appraisal (pre-construction) stage with the ‘outturn’ effects (after completion). The effects that were thought to be when we made the decision to build the scheme are compared with what was found to happen after the scheme opened. Details are available on the agency website at:
	http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/18348.aspx
	The Post Opening Project Evaluation will also analyse the design prediction that the scheme will provide improved journey times for 10 years after opening, before growth in traffic volumes results in an increase in congestion to levels before the improvement. This scheme primarily aimed to increase the capacity and throughput of traffic on the A31 and provide optimal traffic movements to improve journey times at the junction and improve road safety rather than reducing traffic.
	During the period of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, no evidence or issues were received by the Highways Agency to raise significant concerns regarding road safety or congestion at the A31 Canford Bottom junction.

A31: Dorset

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the A31 Canford Bottom Junction Improvement scheme on local businesses.

Stephen Hammond: At the request of local representatives, additional assessments were undertaken to reduce potential impacts of the improvement at the A31 Canford Bottom junction on local businesses, both during the planning of the scheme and during its construction.
	Extensive dialogue was undertaken with the local business community through the Wimborne Business Forum, which was convened at the beginning of the project. All members of the business community were invited and regularly attended a monthly forum chaired by the agency. A successful outcome of the forum was the detailed planning of the local road closures which the agency then announced to all local businesses and the wider community, via the agency's website and press releases. No assessment has been or will be made of business impact following the opening of the scheme. The scheme evaluation will be undertaken a minimum of 12 months after its opening but does not include the impact on local businesses. This is known as a Post Opening Project Evaluation and compares the scheme costs, benefits and other impacts predicted at the appraisal (pre-construction) stage with the ‘outturn’ effects (after completion). Further details are available on the Highways Agency website at:
	http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/18348.aspx
	Small business premises are an example of the type of property that can claim compensation under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973. This compensation can be claimed by those who own and also occupy the property, if certain criteria are met and their property has been reduced in value by more than £50 by physical factors caused by the use of a new or altered road. Further details are available on the Highways Agency website at:
	http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/28533.aspx

A31: Dorset

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the final cost was of the A31 Canford Bottom Junction Improvement scheme; and what assessment he has made of the factors causing a change in costs from the original estimate.

Stephen Hammond: The final cost of the A31 Canford Bottom Junction Improvement scheme is still be determined, as there are ongoing negotiations to agree the final account. The current estimate is £10 million. The assessment of the factors causing a change in costs include reducing the time local roads were closed, diversion of uncharted utility services (not belonging to the agency), inclement weather and adverse ground conditions, which were not as predicted.

Airports: Sikhs

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on discussions on the screening of Sikh turbans at European airports.

Simon Burns: A rigorous and extensive UK trial of an alternative screening process for religious headgear has been ongoing since February 2011. The Department for Transport has updated the European Commission on this through written reports and oral presentations. I am pleased to say that the Commission has agreed (subject to a vote in the relevant regulatory committee) to introduce new regulations permitting member states use this alternative screening arrangement. The UK trial has also been extended for a further 12 months.
	DFT officials continue to remain available to discuss the UK methodology in more detail with other EU member states should they wish to adopt a similar methodology.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what major risks to the HS2 project were identified in the Major Project Authority's report on HS2; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Major Projects Authority report is kept confidential for a period of at least two years to allow free and frank discussion about the project within Government.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings his Department has had with HS2 to discuss the red-amber warning in the Major Project Authority's report on HS2; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department has regular meetings with colleagues in HS2 Ltd on a range of topics.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office report, Central Government's implementation of the national Compact.

Norman Baker: holding answer 13 September 2012
	Following the 2010 re-launch of the Compact the Department for Transport has reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with the civil society sector, including this in its 2011-2015 Business Plan.
	The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that the Compact is implemented across all areas of our business, including nominating a Senior Responsible Officer and a Civil Society Liaison Officer to promote and manage the process and working with colleagues across Government to share best practice and continue to engage with organisations in the civil society sector as they provide transport services.
	The Department has adopted the Cabinet Office's 'Consultation Principles' and guidance, which ensures government departments adhere to the Compact in seeking views about the work they do. Steps have also been taken to ensure that bidders for transport funding are aware of the Compact and the flexibilities it provides for advance payments to civil society organisations.

Employment: Young People

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) jobs, (b) apprenticeships and (c) work experience placements have been created in (i) the UK, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Birmingham since the launch of the Youth Jobs Fund; and what the average financial cost was of each position created.

Esther McVey: There is no Youth Jobs Fund. The Youth Contract, which was launched in April 2012, will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for young people over the next three years.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many non-dependants are exempt from requiring a non-dependant deduction for housing benefit purposes due to being under 25 years old and receiving jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance;
	(2)  what proportion of under 25s that receive jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance and are exempt from non-dependant deductions are under 21 years old.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not currently available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of extended payments of housing benefit in assisting members of long-term workless households into employment.

Steve Webb: No assessment has been undertaken. The extended housing benefit scheme was intended to improve work incentives for long-term benefit recipients. The Government is addressing this issue through universal credit which will fundamentally reform support for working age people, providing greater work incentives and ensuring that work pays.

Housing Benefit

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2012, Official Report, column 403W, on housing benefit, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) disabled people and (b) foster carers who will be affected by the housing benefit changes regarding under-occupation.

Steve Webb: DWP have made an additional £30 million available for the discretionary housing payment budget from 2013-14 aimed specifically at two groups: disabled people who live in significantly adapted accommodation and foster carers.
	DWP estimates there are:
	(a) Around 35,000 potentially affected claimants who are wheelchair users needing accommodation adapted to their needs. Adaptations for wheelchair users are among the most costly on average;
	(b) Fewer than 5,000 potentially affected claimants who are foster carers.
	Notes:
	(a) Estimate for Great Britain derived from analysis of the 2009-10 English Housing Survey.
	(b) Indicative information from a variety of sources including a survey conducted by the Fostering Network in 2010, Department for Education and devolved Administrations, Family Resources Survey.

Winter Fuel Payments: Liverpool

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received the winter fuel allowance in Liverpool Walton constituency in each of the last three years.

Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of winter fuel payment recipients in Liverpool, Walton constituency (last three years for which figures are available) 
			  Winter fuel payment recipients 
			 2010-11 16,430 
			 2009-10 14,990 
			 2008-09 14,840 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. 3. Figures from 2010-11 recognise the May 2010 structural changes to the parliamentary constituencies of England and Wales. 4. These figures are for the total number of payments made and will therefore include some claimants who are not yet pension age. 5. The latest figures for winter fuel payments are published at http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp Source: DWP Information Governance and Security.